Ruth E. Carter Explained
Ruth E. Carter (born April 10, 1960) is an American costume designer for film and television.[2] She is best known for her collaborations with Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Ryan Coogler. During her film career, Carter has been nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, for her work on Lee's biographical film Malcolm X (1992), Steven Spielberg's historical drama film Amistad (1997), and winning twice for Coogler's Marvel superhero films Black Panther (2018) and (2022).[3] She was the first African-American to win and be nominated for Best Costume Design and the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category.[4] [5] Her other film credits include Do the Right Thing (1989), What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), Love & Basketball (2000), Serenity (2005), The Butler (2013), Selma (2014), Marshall (2017), Dolemite Is My Name (2019), and Coming 2 America (2021).
Early life and education
Carter was born on April 10, 1960, in Springfield, Massachusetts, in a single-parent household. Her mother is Mabel Carter,[6] and she was the youngest of eight children. At nine years old, she began attending the Boys & Girls Club. Using her mother's sewing machine, Carter learned from the organization how to read and design simplicity patterns.[7] She graduated in 1978 from Technical High School, Springfield, Ma. In 1982, Carter graduated from Hampton Institute, later renamed Hampton University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts.
Career
After graduating, Carter returned to her hometown, working as an intern for City Stage's costume department and then the Santa Fe Opera. In 1986, she moved to Los Angeles to work at the city's Theater Center.[8] While working there, Carter met director Spike Lee, who hired her for his second film, School Daze (1988). She continued working on his subsequent films, including Do the Right Thing (1989), Mo' Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991), and Malcolm X (1992).[9] [10]
Aside from her work with Spike Lee, Carter also designed costumes for Steven Spielberg's Amistad (1997) and several of John Singleton's films, such as Rosewood (1997) and Baby Boy (2001). She further designed costumes for the American television drama series Being Mary Jane on BET Networks, created by Mara Brock Akil and starring Gabrielle Union.[11]
Carter worked on the superhero film Black Panther (2018), directed by Ryan Coogler. Deriving from Afrofuturism, her costumes were inspired by many traditional African garments, including those of the Maasai and Ndebele people.[12] She traveled to southern Africa to draw aesthetic inspirations and received permission to incorporate traditional Lesotho designs into the film's costumes.[13] At the 91st Academy Awards, she won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, making her the first Black woman to win the Academy Award in the category.[14]
In 2021, Carter received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the film category.[15]
In 2023, Carter won her second Academy Award for Best Costume Design for (2022). During her acceptance speech, Carter dedicated her win to her mother, who had died during the prior week at the age of 101. Also in 2023, the North Carolina Museum of Art hosted an exhibit displaying more than sixty of Carter's original garments.[16]
Filmography
Film
Television
Awards and nominations
Bibliography
- Book: The Art of Ruth E. Carter . Chronicle Books . 2023 . 978-1797203065 . English. [22] [23]
Further reading
- Book: Kirkham. Pat. Stallworth. Shauna. Women Designers in the USA, 1900-2000: Diversity and Difference. 2000. Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts. New York. 978-0-300-09331-5. 141–143, 258. Chapter 4: "Three Strikes Against Me": African American Women Designers. 48628173.
- Book: Landis. Deborah Nadoolman. Screencraft. Costume Design. 2003. Focal Press. Burlington, MA. 978-0-240-80590-0. 718593913.
Notes and References
- Web site: Hampton University Alumna, Ruth E. Carter, to Receive Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Feb. 25 . 2021-03-13. Hampton University. https://web.archive.org/web/20210224161004/http://news.hamptonu.edu/release/Hampton-University-Alumna%2C-Ruth-E%5E-Carter%2C-to-Receive-Star-on-the-Hollywood-Walk-of-Fame-Feb%5E-25. 2021-02-24. live.
- News: James . Kendra . Radical Fashion: An interview with the costume designer Ruth Carter . . November 23, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161206032025/http://www.lennyletter.com/culture/a624/radical-fashion/ . December 6, 2016 . live.
- Web site: Bradley . Laura . The Secrets Behind Black Panther's Spellbinding Fashion . . 2018-02-16 . 2019-02-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191215062817/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/02/black-panther-costumes-designer-ruth-carter-interview . 2019-12-15 . live.
- Coggan . Devan . Ruth E. Carter makes Oscar history as first black woman to win Best Costume Design . Entertainment Weekly . February 24, 2019 . 2019-02-25.
- News: Tangcay . Jazz . Ruth E. Carter Becomes First Black Woman to Win Two Oscars . Variety . March 12, 2023 . March 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313013849/https://variety.com/2023/artisans/news/ruth-carter-oscars-record-black-woman-winners-1235545868/ . March 13, 2023 . live.
- News: Landrum Jr. . Jonathan . Ruth E. Carter becomes 1st Black woman to win 2 Oscars . Associated Press . KKTV . March 13, 2023 . March 13, 2023.
- Web site: Herman. Vallie. Spotlight On: Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter. June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150921045249/http://costumedesignersguild.com/articles-videos/articles-archive/spotlight-on-ruth-carter/. Costume Designers Guild. 2015-09-21. 2021-03-13. en-US. live.
- Web site: Platanitis . Sarah . Hollywood costume designer Ruth Carter talks about her roots in Springfield and Oscar nods . . February 22, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191220160040/https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2015/02/costume_designer_ruth_carter_t.html . December 20, 2019 . live.
- Book: Landis, Deborah Nadoolman . Ruth Carter . Costume Design . . 2003 . 978-0-240-80590-0 . 37–45 .
- Book: Kirkham, Pat . 'Three Strikes Against Me': African American Costume Designers . Women Designers in the USA, 1900–2000: Diversity and Difference . . 2002 . 978-0-300-09331-5 . 142–143 .
- Web site: BET Networks Announces New Programming at Annual Upfront Presentation. The Futon Critic. April 20, 2013. April 2, 2013.
- Web site: Long. Kelle. Black Panther Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter Explains the Symbolism of Her Work. Motion Picture Association of America. 2019-05-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20190514143408/https://www.mpaa.org/2018/05/the-black-panther-costume-designer-explains-the-symbolism-of-her-work/. 2019-05-14. live.
- News: Clarks brought out Black Panther's costume designer to celebrate their new sneaker collab. The Fader. 2018-03-03. en.
- News: Wilson. Julee. Ruth E. Carter Becomes The First Black Woman To Win Oscar For Best Costume Design. February 24, 2019. Essence. https://web.archive.org/web/20190225091708/https://www.essence.com/fashion/ruth-e-carter-first-black-woman-oscar-costume-design/. February 25, 2019. live.
- News: Tangcay . Jazz . Ruth E. Carter Makes History With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Variety . February 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210224191110/https://variety.com/2021/artisans/awards/ruth-carter-walk-of-fame-1234913760/ . February 24, 2021 . live.
- Web site: Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design . February 6, 2023 . North Carolina Museum of Art . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314005239/https://ncartmuseum.org/series/ruth-e-carter-afrofuturism-in-costume-design/ . March 14, 2023 . live.
- Web site: Blauvelt. Christian. 2020-08-28. Ruth E. Carter Preserves Black History Through Fashion. 2021-03-13. IndieWire. en.
- Web site: Ruth E. Carter . IMDb. March 29, 2022.
- https://books.google.com/books?id=MbYDAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22ruth+e.+carter%22&pg=PA59 "Actor Mekhi Pfifer and Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter Honored at American Black Film Festival"
- Web site: ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood. 2021-06-04. Essence. en-US.
- Web site: Mack . Grace . FashFilmFete festival to celebrate iconic costume designers, fashion in film . 2023-10-21 . Phoenix New Times . en.
- Web site: 2023-05-24 . Why Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter feels great about the state of Hollywood . 2023-06-21 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
- Web site: Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter Gives Glimpses at Her Legendary Career in Debut Book (Exclusive) . 2023-06-21 . Peoplemag . en.
